A recent fire has closed down the Madison Children’s Museum in Wisconsin until August 14, 2010. The cause of the downtown Madison museum’s closure is not due so much to the fire damage the building experienced. Rather, it is because of the following water damage.
The Good, the Bad and the Wet
A fire broke out at the museum in the early hours of the morning recently, triggering the newly installed sprinkler system. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found a flood of water running down the rear stairs of the building. The fire originally started in the break room after a coffee maker, which was plugged into an electrical outlet, overheated and caught fire. The sprinkler systems did their job and extinguished the blaze before it could spread throughout the museum. However, the same is not true of the water, which ran down four flights of stairs. The fire damage totaled $5,000; the water damage was $45,000. However, the cost of the fire damage could have been higher if the sprinkler system did not work.
When it comes to business continuity, could your business survive being closed for a couple of weeks or more because of water or fire damage? Talk to a restoration professional today to see how you can plan to prevent such a disaster, and how to get back on your feet quickly when the unthinkable happens.
When there is a fire in a building, the sprinkler system and firefighters’ efforts can be a saving grace. However, if the sprinklers went off in your home or office, would you run inside the building to gather items that would be irreplaceable if damaged by water? Did you know that you do not have to risk your life and safety for fear that precious books, photos and documents may get wet?
Although fire sprinklers can help slow the spread of a fire in a building, they can also cause water damage to electronic equipment, walls, carpets and so on. To help address this problem, “The Washington Post” suggests placing valuables in plastic zipper bags and storing them on the lower levels of a building, off the floor. However, the plastic zipper bags will only do so much if they burn in a fire.
While storing items in plastic bags is not a horrible idea, there are other steps people can take in a home or office to prevent water and fire damage from occurring to important documents and personal items in the event of a fire.
The first is to invest in a water and fireproof file cabinet and/or safe and use it. Store your important documents and personal items in a file cabinet or safe on a daily basis. These items can include deeds, photograph negatives, contracts, books and other things of value. Learn other water and fire-damage prevention techniques.
Rapid Refile recently completed a project for a medical office in southwest Reading, Pennsylvania that suffered extensive damage from a two-alarm fire. Although the cause of the fire was not immediately known, officials think it started on the roof, which had wooden beams inside of it. It did not take long for the flames to consume the entire rooftop. Although the medical office had a fire alarm, the local fire department never received the signal it sends when the alarm sounds. The firefighters only learned about the blaze from neighbors who called 9-1-1. A report from the “Reading Eagle” states the medical office’s “roof was destroyed and the interior was charred.”
Water and smoke-damaged documents
Preparing documents to be restored
After the fire, Rapid Refile was contracted to help remediate the building’s extensively damaged medical documents. Medical documents the professionals at Rapid Refile can help restore include water-damaged documents, x-rays, wet books and damaged photographs. By calling Rapid Refile, the medical office was able to prevent mold growth and deterioration caused by the fire’s smoke and soot, which would have caused further damage to the documents, and aided in business continuity. The professionals at Rapid Refile handle all medical documents per HIPPA standards and handle sensitive materials with strict protocols to ensure the privacy of those served by medical offices.
One of things people look forward to the most on the nation’s Independence Day is lighting fireworks. To make the most out of the holiday weekend, play it safe. Make this Fourth of July memorable because of the great time you had with family and friends, not because of a fireworks accident that went wrong.
Firework Safety Tips
Know the law regarding fireworks in your state. If you are in an area that does not allow illegal fireworks, do not even think about using them.
Only use fireworks outside.
Have a hose or a bucket of water ready to extinguish any blazes.
Do not alter fireworks.
Leave a dud alone. If a firework does not work, leave it alone for at least 20 minutes before soaking it a bucket of water. Do not try to relight a dud.
Do not drink and light fireworks. If there will be alcohol at your Independence Day festivities, appoint a designated fireworks lighter who will remain sober.
Only allow those over the age of 12 use sparklers.
Use safety equipment. The person lighting the fireworks should wear safety glass and spectators should keep a safe distance.
More than 170 homes in Eagle Rock, Ariz. had to evacuate this weekend as thousands more are advised to do the same. A wildfire, which started last week, was thought to be about 40% contained until a second one started during the weekend. The AP reports this second fire currently “rages out of control.” It is believed that lightening started the second blaze. A man who started small campfire and did not extinguish it properly unintentionally caused the first fire.
Affected Areas
Currently, those living in the Timberline Estates, Wupatki Trails and Fernwood are being advised to leave their homes and head to a Red Cross shelter at Flagstaff Middle School. Experts from the Kaibab National Forest state the fire should be contained by Tuesday, June 22, 2010. County Road 141 is now re-open, but the area around the fire is still closed. While the Kaibab National Forest remains open for camping, the lake is closed to boating and fishing as it is being used for fire operations, according to the Fire Department News Network.
Fire Information
If you live in the Eagle Rock area and wish to learn more about the fires, call the Fire Information Center from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at 928-635-5687 or 928-635-5688. More on this story.
